Health and Wellness Topics Important to College Students

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Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap

Summer is here. That means that days get longer, clothing gets smaller, and skin get tanner. But how bad is that tan for you really and how can you prevent sunburn during the long summer days?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, with more than 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. Those sunburns we remember as we were younger were not only painful, but they made us more susceptible to skin cancer.

There are several steps we can take now to avoid further risk. Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap! is a catch phrase that can help you remember some of the key steps you can take to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

SLIP on a shirt.

SLOP on sunscreen.

SLAP on a hat.

WRAP on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.

While laying in the sun and getting a tan might make you feel better about your physical appearance, it isn’t worth it. A recent Facebook post by Tawny Willoughby shows what skin cancer treatment can look like. In her post she mentions that she posted this picture as motivation for other to not go to tanning bed or lay in the sun.

If you notice any time of change in your skin, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Think about the consequences before you go in the sun without SLIP-pin, SLOP-pin, SLAP-pin, and WRAP-pin first.